The 1.6-hectare site was set to be divided into two areas, with one area retained as the contractors’ depot, undergoing significant upgrades and modernisation of facilities.
The other area was to be redeveloped into a new recycling centre, replacing the existing site at Cole Green on the A414.
The new recycling centre was designed with a split-level layout, allowing the majority of waste containers to be accessed without using steps.
It was also to include a new “re-use” centre where residents could donate unwanted items and purchase new items, along with a weighbridge for small and medium-sized businesses to dispose of small amounts of commercial material.
Facilities at the contractors’ depot were to be enhanced with a vehicle wash, workshop, material bays, a fuel station, a two-storey car park, and storage areas.
At the time, councillor Stephen Boulton, executive member for environment and planning at Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, said: “This is great news for the borough.
“Our residents and local businesses are really keen recyclers and want to do all they can to help the environment.
“This new site will deliver on that, providing better facilities and better access, making recycling more convenient and easy for residents as well as enabling us to operate our services more efficiently.”
The recycling centre was designed with easy access in mind for residents, featuring an internal layout that accommodated the separate movement of both public and operational traffic.
To prevent queueing on the highway, a long entrance road was planned with over 30 parking bays, including separate parking for the reuse centre and access for those using public transport, walking, or cycling.
[From the Welwyn Hatfield Times of November 26, 2020]
